Biomolecules Flashcards
What are the types of carbohydrate?
- Monosaccharides
- Disaccharides
- Polysaccharides
Fructose + Glucose = ?
Sucrose + H20
Galactose + Glucose = ?
Lactose + H20
Glucose + Glucose = ?
Maltose + H20
What are the biological roles of carbohydrate?
- Primary source of energy for cells
- Anticoagulant
- Antigen
- Hormones
- Framework of the body
- Backup energy source
What are the properties of monosaccharides?
- Crystalline
- Sweet
- soluble in water
- easy to digest
What are the properties of disaccharides?
- Crystalline
- Sweet
- soluble in water
- must breakdown into monosaccharides before digesting
What are homopolysaccharides?
homopolysaccharides are polysaccharides that are made of the same monosaccharides
What are heteropolysaccharides?
heteropolysaccharides are polysaccharides that are made of different types of monosaccharides
What bond is used to link monosaccharides together?
glycosidic bond
What is the polysaccharide found in insects?
Chitin
What is the polysaccharide found in plants?
Starch and cellulose
What is the polysaccharide found in animals?
Glycogen
What are the properties of polysaccharides?
- do not form crystals
- not sweet
- insoluble in water
- not osmotically active
What are the 3 hormones that regulate glycogen?
- Insulin
- Glucagon
- Epinephrine
How is insulin made?
Made of protein containing 51 amino acids secreted by beta cells in the pancreas when blood glucose is high
What is the effect of insulin?
Insulin stimulates glycogen synthesis
How is glucagon made?
Made up of protein containing 29 amino acids secreted by alpha cells in pancreas when blood glucose level is low.
What is the effect of glucagon?
glucagon stimulates glycogen degradation
How is Epinephrine/Adrenaline made?
- Produced by adrenal glands located on top of kidneys
- Derivative of amino acid tyrosine
What is the effect of Epinephrine/Adrenaline?
Binds to cell surface receptors (e.g. in liver), activates the adenylate cyclase signaling pathway and stimulates glycogen degradation
What are the biological roles of lipids?
- Form cell membranes around our cells
- Act as energy stores and are broken down to generate ATP
- Hormones
- Vitamins
What is the composition of a phospholipid?
1 glycerol + 2 fatty acid chains (hydrophobic tail) + 1 phosphate group (hydrophilic head)